Brake holding attachment for motor vehicles



A. PASSAROTTI BRAKE HOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Jan. 9, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 13, 1949 INVENTOR. flyr/mw fzyjmwrn BY Jan.9, 1951 A. PASSAROTTI BRAKEHOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES FiledSept. 15, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 4w/m/vy [Fay/41w! BY PatentedJan. 9, 1951 BRAKE HOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR ItiOTOR VEHICLES AnthonyPassarotti, North Bergen, N. J.

Application September 1 3, 1949, Serial No. 115,469

This invention relates to a brake holding attachment for motor vehicles.

The invention comprehends an attachment adapted to be affixed to thefoot pedal brake of a motor vehicle such as a pleasure automobile, truckand the like for applying the brakes when the clutch pedal is depressedand for holding the same in applied relation during the timethat theclutch is disengaged.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brake holding attachmentwhich is adapted to be thrown into engagement with the clutch pedal forapplying the brake when the clutch pedal is depressed and which isautomatically disengaged from the clutch pedal when the same is releasedto throw the clutch into engagement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brake holding attachmenthaving a pivoted arm adapted to be swung into tensioned engagement withthe clutch pedal forapplying the brakes and which is automaticallydisengaged from the clutch pedal when the clutch pedal is released.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a brake holdingattachment which is particularly applicable for holding the brakes inapplied relation when the motor vehicle stops on a hill.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made tothe following specification and accompanying drawings in which thepreferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a brake holding attachment constructed inaccordance with the invention and shown in position aflixed to a footpedal brake and in engagement with the clutch pedal of a motor vehicle.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the attachment shown in fixed position on thefoot pedal brake.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 3-3 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken approximately on line 44of Fig. 1.

Fig. is a similar view with the outer end of I the attachment swung tovertical relation.

' Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the attachmentis adapted to be afiixed at one end to the shank S of the foot pedalbrake B of a motor vehicle such as a pleasure car, truck and the likewith the opposite end thereof adapted to be thrown into engagement withthe shank 'I of the clutch pedal 0 so as to effect downward movement of.the foot pedal brake" to apply the brakes when the clutch pedal C isdepressed to disengage the clutch.

1 Claim. (01. 74 47s) The attachment comprises a fiat bar II whichincludes a short inner section I2 afiixed to the shank S of the footpedal brake B and a relatively longer outer section I3 pivotallyconnected to the fixed section I2 for movement from an upright relationtherewith to a longitudinally aligned relation in which the outer endthereof.

is tensioned against the shank T of the clutch pedal C. The innersection I2 i formed with a longitudinally extending slot I4 in the outerend thereof through which protrude a screw stud I5 with its lower endthreadedly engaged in an opening it in a head and adapted to be adjustedlongitudinally of the slot for 'adjustably connecting the bar with thehead to vary the effective length of the bar. The head I1 is providedwith a cross-ba I8 secured against the end thereof by studs I9 so as todispose the cross-bar in bridging relation with a recess 22 openingthrough the end of the head and adapted to receive the shank S of thefoot pedal brake with.

the cross-bar clamped against the shank thereof for securing theattachment to the foot pedal brake.

The outer section I3 is pivotally connected with the inner section I2thereof to permit swinging movement of the outer section from alignedrelation with the inner section to an upright relation therewith asshown in broken line in Fig. 3 of the drawings. For this purpose theouter section I3 is bifurcated to provide a medial slot 23 in which i amedial tongue 24' formed on the end of the inner section I2 is pivotallyarranged on a crosspin 25. The ends of the furcations 26 are formed withbeveled faces 21 which are adapted to abut against complementary beveledface portions 28 on the opposite sides of the tongue 24 of the innersection I2 so as to limit the downward swinging movement of the outersection and hold the same in longitudinal alignment with the innersection when swung to downward position.

In order to provide means for automatically swinging the outer sectionI3 from aligned relation with the inner section to an upright relationtherewith when the clutch pedal C is raised, the inner section isprovided with a cylindrical plunger 30 arranged for reciprocatorymovement in a cylindrical bore 3i opening through one of the beveledface portions 28 thereof with a coiled expansion spring 32 interposedbetween the bottom of the bore and the inner end of the plunger fortensioning the same against the beveled face 21 of one of the furcations26. Th outer free end of the outer section I3 is formed with a plunger34 having a headed g with the inner section i2.

outer end 35 with the shank of the plunger mounted in a cylindrical bore36 opening through the end of said section and having a coiled expansionspring 31 tensioned against the inner end of said plunger forresiliently tensioning the head 35 against the shank T of the clutchpedal C when the outer section [3 is swung to longitudinal alignmentwith the innensection l2..

Whenapplyingrthe'attachment to the foot pedal brake of a motor vehicle,the head H is secured to the shank thereof and the bar H adjusted withreference to the head ll to provide for the proper tensioning of theplunger 34 against the shank of the clutch pedal C when the outersection i3 is arranged in alignment This is effected by loosening thescrew stud l5 and adjusting the same longitudinally of the slot I4 sothat the head 35 of the plunger 34 resiliently engages against the shankT of the clutch pedalv C when th'eJouter sectionv lsisiin alignment withthe innor: section after which the screw stud i5 is tightened in theopening lfi'of the head i! to thereby'tighten the washer 38' against:the upper face of the inner "section [2.

, Inusean'd operation the outer section: 13 of theattachment is'normallyarranged in upright relation-and when-it is necessary-to stop the motorvehicle, particularly on a hill, theouter section i3 is engaged by thefootof the operator to swing-the same fromthe upward position shown inbroken lines in-Fig. 3 of the drawings tothe aligned position with theinner section li'in which position the head 35'of the plunger engagesagainst the shank T of the clutch pedal C. The operator then depressestheclutch pedal C'to disconnect the clutch and stop the vehicle whichdownward movement of the clutch'pedal causes the head of the'clutchpedal toengage the-outer end of the outer section [3 andmove the'samedownwardly so as to depress the" foot pedal'brake B to thereby apply thebrakes of-the motor vehicle; The brakes areretained in applied conditionduring the time that theclutch pedalC is retained in depressed relation;When the clutch pedal Cis released to startzthecar, the upwardmovementthereofre- 4 leases the attachment and permits the foot pedalbrake to rise so as to release the brakes. The upward movement of theshank T of the clutch pedal moves the outer end of the outer section [3therewith out of aligned position with the inner section 12 whereuponthe plunger 36 swings the outer section is to the upright position shownin. broken linzs-inFig. 3 of the-drawings.

Whatiswclaimed is:

In a brake holding attachment for motor vehicles, a bar, a head aflixedto one end of said bar and having means adapted for attaching the sameto-the shank of the foot pedal brake of a motor vehicle, said bar havingan outer section pivotally connected therewith for swinging movementfrom an upright relation to a lowered relation and adapted to engageagainst the shank'of'the clutch pedal when in said lowered relation fordepressing the foot pedal brake to thereby apply. the brakesof thevehicle-by the depressing of the clutch pedal, said bar, having meansresiliently tensioned. against Y the outer section thereof, for swingingthesame fromsaid, loweredpositionto the upright relation out. of

engagement with the clutch pedal, and saidouter section having aresilient plunger extending ioutwardly from the end thereof andadaptedto ten:

sion the outer section against the shank of the clutch pedal when, in,engagement therewith.

ANTHONY PASSAROTTI.,.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED S'IATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,526,999 Mizner Feb.,,l7, .19251,820,359. Manning Aug. 725, 193L 1,979,029 Fetter Oct.. 30, 19342,078,324 Grifiiths Apr. 27, 19 3'7 2,451,700; Van Trine Oct; 19, 1948'FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 485,901 Great-Britain May 26, 1938*

